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UCLA Football Recruiting: The Final 2016 Offensive Big Board

By Michael Hanna

Nov 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) passes the ball during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. UCLA won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) passes the ball during the second half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. UCLA won 17-9. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Paul Perkins (24) scores on a touchdown run against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Paul Perkins (24) scores on a touchdown run against the Southern California Trojans during an NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

RUNNING BACKS

Coming off a 2015 recruiting class in which the Bruins reeled in two top running backs, Soso Jamabo and Bolu Olorunfunmi, running back was never going to be a huge need in the 2016 class for UCLA.

Fortuitously, it also happens to be a near-barren year for running back talent in Southern California.

After missing on 4-star scatback Sean McGrew (Bellflower, CA/St. John Bosco), the Bruins grabbed 3-star situational power back/fullback Jalen Starks (Encino, CA/Crespi) in the late spring.

And in a surprise breaking development, after essentially ignoring other 2016 running back recruits and focusing on other positions since Starks’s commitment, UCLA has offered a scholarship within the last 24 hours to recent Stanford decommit and 3-star running back Brandon Stephens (Plano, TX/Plano). The Bruin coaches have also convinced him to take an official visit to UCLA this upcoming weekend, which is the final weekend available to host visitors before National Signing Day on February 3.

Grabbing Stephens — who garnered offers from powers like Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Texas before his initial commitment to Stanford — would be an unexpected and pleasant surprise for the Bruins. Although he lacks elite speed, Stephens has a playing style that is spookily reminiscent of departed UCLA running back Paul Perkins. Stephens relies on his balance, cutting ability, patience, and vision to consistently churn out positive yardage.

Given how productive and beloved Perkins was as a Bruin, it is no wonder that new offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu and his offensive staff jumped at the chance to go after such a similar style of player in Stephens when Stephens decommitted from Stanford last Thursday, January 21.

Having been committed to the Cardinal through late January, Stephens has taken no other official visits and thus, his impending trip to Westwood would be the only trip he has on his mind when making his decision next week. A lot of dominoes seem to be falling in UCLA’s favor as it attempts to land its second star running back from Plano, Texas in as many years.

UCLA is trending as the ascendant favorite to grab Stephens’s commitment, per the 24/7 Sports Crystal Ball.

Next: Wide Receivers